History of Springfield, Illinois, its attractions as a home and advantages for business, manufacturing, etc. Pub. under the auspices of the Springfield board of trade, by J. C. Power.

8 SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, AND
ber following, Governor Henry appointed posed by the United States Congress.
John Todd civil commandant and Lieu- By this settlement the United States was
tenant Colonel of the new county. to refund to Virginit all the money that
He wrote Commandant Todd a lengthy had been expended by that State in her
letter of instructions, in which he says: military operations, in conquering and
"The grand objects, which are disclosed holding the territory. It was also stiputo your countrymen, will prove beneficial lated that a quantity, not exceeding one
or otherwise, according to the nature and hundred and fifty thousand acres of land,
abilities of those who are called to direct promised by the State of Virginia, shall
the affairs of that remote country. * * * be allowed and granted by the United
One great good expected from holding States, to General George Rogers Clarke,
the Illinois, is to overawe the Indians and to the officers and soldiers of his
from warring against the settlers on this regiment, who marched with him, when
side of the Ohio." Near the close of his the forts of Kaskaskia and St. Vincent
letter, Governor Henry says: "I think it were reduced, and to the officers and solproper for you to send me an express, diers that were afterwards incorporated
once in the month, with a general ac- into the said regiment. By this act the
count of affairs with you, and any par- representatives of that State, in Congress,
ticulars you may wish to communicate." were instructed and empowered to transThe headquarters of Commandant Todd, fer the territory, by deed, to the United
or the seat of government for the county, States. The deed was executed March 1,
was at Kaskaskia. 1784, and signed by Thomas Jefferson,
The stay of Colonel Todd, in Illinois, Samuel Hardy, Arthur Lee and James
was not of long duration. Being under Monroe.
orders to return to Virginia, he made it By Virginia protecting the frontier
convenient to visit his family at Lexing- settlers from the cruelties of Indian warton, Kentucky, on the way. While at fare, she very justly goes down to posLexington, news came that the Indians terity, with the honor of having donated
west of the Ohio, were crossing over into to the general government, territory from
Kentucky. He returned at the head of which has grown five of the very best
his command, and was killed at the bat- States of the American Union. But
tle of Blue Licks. Col. Todd was related while she was generous to the public, she
to the ancestors of Mrs. Lincoln. failed to be just to the man who was inIn 1780 Congress recommended to the strumental in bringing so much honor
several States having waste, or unappro- upon herself. Butler, in his history of
priated lands, in the western country, to Kentucky, speaking of George Rogers
cede it to the United States government Clarke, says: " The government of Virfor the common benefit of the Union. In ginia failed to settle his accounts. PriJanuary, 1781, Virginia responded to the vate suits were brought against him for
overture of Congress, by yielding her public supplies, which ultimately swept
claims to the territory northwest of the away his fortune, and with this injustice
Ohio river, with certain conditions an- the spirit of the hero fell, and the Genenexed. By an aot of Sept. 13, 1783, Con- ral never recovered the energies which
gress proposed to comply, in the main, had stamped him as one of nature's noble
with the wishes of Virginia; but sugges- men. At the same time, it is feared that
ted some modification of the terms. On a too extensive conviviality contributed
the 20th of December following, the its mischievous effects." The latter was,
General Assembly of Virginia passed an most likely, the real cause of his misact accepting the modified terms pro- fortunes.