The Jefferson-Lemen Compact

Jefferson-Lemen Compact, by
Willard C. MacNaul

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Title: The Jefferson-Lemen Compact The Relations of Thomas
Jefferson and James Lemen in the Exclusion of Slavery from Illinois
and Northern Territory with Related Documents 1781-1818
Author: Willard C. MacNaul
Release Date: April 29, 2007 [EBook #21251]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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The Jefferson-Lemen Compact
The Relations of Thomas Jefferson and James Lemen in the Exclusion
of Slavery from Illinois and the Northwest Territory with Related
Documents 1781-1818
A Paper read before the Chicago Historical Society February 16, 1915
By Willard C. MacNaul
[Illustration: Arms]
The University of Chicago Press 1915
Copyright by CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY 1915

CONTENTS {p.03}
INTRODUCTION
1. Sketch of James Lemen.................................. 7
2. Lemen's Relations with Jefferson in Virginia........... 9
3. Lemen's Anti-Slavery Mission in Illinois-- Slavery in Illinois until
1787...................... 11 Prohibition of Slavery by Ordinance of
1787......... 11 The Slavery Conflict under Gov. St. Clair
(1787-1800)....................................... 12 The Slavery Conflict under
Gov. Harrison (1801-1809)....................................... 13 Slavery
Question in the Movement for Division of Indiana Territory in
1808-9.................... 16 James Lemen's Anti-Slavery Influence in the

Baptist Churches until 1809....................... 16 Slavery under Gov.
Ninian Edwards (1809-1818)....... 19 Slavery in the Campaign for
Statehood in 1818....... 19
4. Available Materials Relating to the Subject........... 23
5. Account of the "Lemen Family Notes"................... 24
DOCUMENTS
I. Diary of James Lemen, Sr.............................. 26
II. History of the Relations of James Lemen and Thos. Jefferson, by J.
M. Peck.................. 32
III. How Illinois Got Chicago, by Jos. B. Lemen............ 37
IV. Address to the Friends of Freedom..................... 38
V. Recollections of a Centennarian, by Dr. W. F.
Boyakin................................... 39
VI. In Memory of Rev. Jas. Lemen, Sr...................... 41
VII. Statement by Editor of Belleville Advocate.......... 41
VIII. Letter of Rev. J. M. Peck on the Old Lemen Family
Notes........................................ 42
PIONEER LETTERS {p.04}
IX. Letter of Senator Douglas to Rev. Jas. Lemen, Sr...... 46
X. Announcement by J. B. Lemen........................... 48
XL. Letter of Gov. Ninian Edwards to Jas. Lemen, Jr....... 49
XII. Letter of A. W. Snyder to Jas. Lemen, Sr.............. 49

XIII. Letter of Abraham Lincoln to Jas. Lemen, Jr........... 50
XIV. The Lemen Monument--Lemen's War Record................ 51
XV. Sketch of Rev. James Lemen, Sr., by J. M. Peck........ 52
XVI. Old Lemen Family Notes, Statement by Jos. B. Lemen.... 56
References............................................ 59

NOTE {p.05}
The materials here presented were collected in connection with the
preparation of a history of the first generation of Illinois Baptists. The
narrative introduction is printed substantially as delivered at a special
meeting of the Chicago Historical Society, and, with the collection of
documents, is published in response to inquiries concerning the
so-called "Lemen Family Notes," and in compliance with the request
for a contribution to the publications of this Society. It is hoped that the
publication may serve to elicit further information concerning the
alleged "Notes," the existence of which has become a subject of more
or less interest to historians. The compiler merely presents the materials
at their face value, without assuming to pass critical judgment upon
them.
W. C. M.

INTRODUCTION {p.07}
RELATIONS OF JAMES LEMEN AND THOMAS JEFFERSON IN
THE EXCLUSION OF SLAVERY FROM ILLINOIS AND THE
NORTHWEST TERRITORY
In view of the approaching centennary of statehood in Illinois, the
name of James Lemen takes on a timely interest because of his
services--social, religious, and political--in the making of the

Commonwealth. He was a native of Virginia, born and reared in the
vicinity of Harper's Ferry. He served a two-years' enlistment in the
Revolutionary War under Washington, and afterwards returned to his
regiment during the siege of Yorktown. His "Yorktown Notes" in his
diary give some interesting glimpses of his participation in that
campaign.[1] His Scotch ancestors had served in a similar cause under
Cromwell, whose wedding gift to one of their number is still cherished
as a family heirloom.
Upon leaving the army James Lemen married Catherine Ogle, daughter
of Captain Joseph Ogle, whose name is perpetuated in that of Ogle
county, Illinois. The Ogles were of old English stock, some