The Jefferson-Lemen Compact | Page 3

his worth
when he was but a child, and I freely confess that in some of my most
important achievements his example, wish, and advice, though then but
a very young man, largely influenced my action." In a sketch of the
relations of the two men by Dr. John M. Peck we are told that "after
Jefferson became President of the United States, he retained all of his
early affection for Mr. Lemen"; and upon the occasion of a visit of a
mutual friend to the President, in 1808, "he inquired after him with all
the fondness of a father."[5]
Their early relations in Virginia, so far as we have any account of them,
concerned their mutual anti-slavery interests. Peck tells us that "Mr.
Lemen was a born anti-slavery leader, and had proved himself such in
Virginia by inducing scores of masters to free their slaves through his
prevailing kindness of manner and Christian arguments." Concerning
{p.10} the cession of Virginia's claims to the Northwest Territory,
Jefferson is thus quoted, from his letter to Robert Lemen: "Before any
one had even mentioned the matter, James Lemen, by reason of his
devotion to anti-slavery principles, suggested to me that we (Virginia)
make the transfer, and that slavery be excluded; and it so impressed and
influenced me that whatever is due me as credit for my share in the
matter, is largely, if not wholly, due to James Lemen's advice and most

righteous counsel."[5]
Before this transfer was effected, it appears that Jefferson had entered
into negotiations with his young protégé with a view to inducing him to
locate in the "Illinois country" as his agent, in order to co-operate with
himself in the effort to exclude slavery from the entire Northwest
Territory. Mr. Lemen makes record of an interview with Jefferson
under date of December 11, 1782, as follows: "Thomas Jefferson had
me to visit him again a short time ago, as he wanted me to go to the
Illinois country in the Northwest after a year or two, in order to try to
lead and direct the new settlers in the best way, and also to oppose the
introduction of slavery into that country at a later day, as I am known
as an opponent of that evil; and he says he will give me some help. It is
all because of his great kindness and affection for me, for which I am
very grateful; but I have not yet fully decided to do so, but have agreed
to consider the case." In May, 1784, they had another interview, on the
eve of Jefferson's departure on his prolonged mission to France. Mr.
Lemen's memorandum reads: "I saw Jefferson at Annapolis, Maryland,
to-day, and had a very pleasant visit with him. I have consented to go to
Illinois on his mission, and he intends helping me some; but I did not
ask nor wish it. We had a full agreement and understanding as to all
terms and duties. The agreement is strictly private between us, but all
his purposes are perfectly honorable and praiseworthy."[6]
Thus the mission was undertaken which proved to be his life-work. He
had intended starting with his father-in-law, Captain Ogle, in 1785, but
was detained by illness in his family. December 28, 1785, he records:
"Jefferson's confidential agent gave me one hundred dollars of his
funds to use for my family, if need be, and if not, to go to good causes;
and I will go to Illinois on his mission next spring and take my wife
and children."
Such {p.11} was the origin and nature of the so-called
"Jefferson-Lemen Secret Anti-Slavery Compact," the available
evidence concerning which will be given at the conclusion of this
paper.[7] The anti-slavery propaganda of James Lemen and his circle
constituted a determining factor in the history of the first generation of

Illinois Baptists. To what extent Lemen co-operated with Jefferson in
his movements will appear as we proceed with the story of his efforts
to make Illinois a free State.
The "Old Dominion" ceded her "county of Illinois" to the National
domain in 1784. Jefferson's effort to provide for the exclusion of
slavery from the new Territory at that date proved abortive.
Consequently, when James Lemen arrived at the old French village of
Kaskaskia in July, 1786, he found slavery legally entrenched in all the
former French possessions in the "Illinois country." It had been
introduced by Renault, in 1719, who brought 500 negroes from Santo
Domingo (then a French possession) to work the mines which he
expected to develop in this section of the French Colonial Empire.[8] It
is a noteworthy fact that slavery was established on the soil of Illinois
just a century after its introduction on the shores of Virginia. When the
French possessions were taken over by Great