The Long Nine and the Great Capitol Debate
The winter of 1836-1837 was bitterly cold in Vandalia, Illinois, where the state legislature met in a cramped, drafty building that had served as the capital since 1819. But inside those walls, a political battle was heating up that would reshape the state's future and, ultimately, the nation's.
Nine legislators from Sangamon County — dubbed the 'Long Nine' because their combined height exceeded 54 feet — had arrived with a mission: move the state capital to Springfield. Leading this group was 27-year-old Abraham Lincoln, serving his second term in the Illinois House of Representatives. His colleagues included John Dawson, Ninian Edwards, William Elkin, Andrew McCormick, Dan Stone, Robert Wilson, Job Fletcher, and Archer Herndon. Together, they represented the most populous county in Illinois, giving them unusual leverage in a closely divided legislature.
The competition was fierce. Alton, situated on the Mississippi River with established commerce and infrastructure, seemed the logical choice. Peoria, Jacksonville, and even tiny Illiopolis mounted serious campaigns. Vandalia itself fought to retain the capital, offering to build a new statehouse at local expense. But the Long Nine had advantages their opponents lacked: unity, strategic thinking, and Lincoln's growing skill at political horse-trading.
Lincoln and his allies employed a strategy that would become legendary in Illinois political lore. They supported internal improvement projects — roads, canals, and railroads — for counties across the state in exchange for votes to relocate the capital. They emphasized Springfield's central location, arguing that as Illinois grew westward and northward, a capital in the geographic center made practical sense. They also quietly reminded legislators that Springfield's businessmen had pledged $50,000 and donated two acres of land for a new capitol building — a significant inducement in cash-strapped frontier Illinois.
The maneuvering came to a head on February 28, 1837. The House voted 46-37 to make Springfield the new capital. The Senate concurred. According to one account, when the final vote was announced, Lincoln was so excited he jumped over a railing in celebration. Stephen T. Logan, a prominent Springfield lawyer who would later become Lincoln's law partner, was reportedly in Vandalia that day and rode through the night to bring the news home.
