Constitutional Crisis in Illinois 1823-1824 - Chapter 6 John Mason & Sarah Paine Peck

John Mason "Peck was very involved in the slavery issue in Illinois. The crisis was too important for religious leaders like Peck and his Baptist counterparts, along with Methodist (Peter Cartwright), Presbyterian (Thomas Lippincott, . . .), and others to sit on the sidelines, remain silent, and allow this evil to be incorporated into the state’s constitution. Slavery had long been an issue in Illinois. Indentured servitude was still being practiced, as well as slave trading. The issue reached the flash point during the tenure of Governor Edward Coles, second governor of Illinois (1822-1826). Coles became the leader of the anti-slavery movement."

"Peck picked up the torch of freedom and entered the struggle to defeat the conventionists’ evil scheme in his adopted state. . . .He was able during his missionary circuits to quietly and unobtrusively—similar to an undercover operation—organize, monitor, and supervise the precinct committees without hindering his primary mission. As Lippincott stated, 'whatever other things he attempted, he did not fail to magnify his office as a preacher. He was always ready, and I believe sought all proper occasions to preach the gospel.' "

In these excerpts from Chapter 6 in our forthcoming book - John Mason and Sarah Paine Peck, Missionaries Extraordinaire - you see Peck's involvement in the constitutional crisis that occurred in Illinois in 1823-1824 over slavery.

The picture is of Governor Edward Coles (1786-1868).