There was a question raised in the Senate as to the regularity of Shields’ election. My impression is—I have not the data before me as I write—that the irregularity was on the issue of citizenship; at all events, the legislature cured the defect by electing Shields over again.
According to the record, it was Shields who reported the bill making a grant of lands to aid in the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad, the credit of which is usually given to Senator Douglas who was no doubt also a warm champion of the measure. It was Shields who likewise introduced and pressed the passage of a bill granting “bounty lands” to the soldiers and sailors who had served in the war with Mexico. When England was threatening with her naval forces the little republic of San Salvador on some pretext, Senator Shields promptly introduced a resolution on the subject, invoking the authority of the Monroe doctrine.
Bills to aid other railroad projects in Illinois were favorably reported by him. At that time the West was clamoring for railroads, which were indispensable to its development. In these days the country seems to forget how much of its progress and prosperity has been due to the much maligned railroads. Space will not admit of even a summary of the important public measures that Shields had part in framing. The files of the Congressional Record bear testimony to his unceasing industry during his senatorial career. It is worthy of note that Shields was consistently opposed to the extension of slavery and his record shows it, although in this regard he was not always in harmony with his party.
The State of Illinois, by vote of the legislature, presented to General Shields a costly sword in recognition of his gallant services on the battlefields of Mexico. The State of South Carolina in like manner voted him a sword, “in testimony of her admiration of his gallantry in the Mexican war, and as a tribute of gratitude for his parental attention to the Palmetto regiment.” This regiment was in Shields’ brigade in several engagements.
At the expiration of his term in the Senate he failed to secure a re-election, Lyman Trumbull being chosen to succeed him. This result was due to dissensions in the party ranks in consequence of the slavery issue, and to the growing power of the incipient Republican party.
Shortly after this Shields removed to Minnesota, gathering about his new home the nucleus of an Irish colony which has since become the populous and prosperous settlement known as “Shieldsville.” In fact, this was the beginning of the colonization movement in that state to which Archbishop Ireland afterward lent his powerful aid.
It was during Shields’ sojourn in Minnesota that the overture was made to him to take the command of the papal army. This was at the time when the revolutionary movement in Italy threatened the invasion and integrity of the papal states during the reign of Pius IX. Shields declined to accept. I had the details of the overture from the general’s own lips at a late period of his life.
When Minnesota was admitted as a state in 1858 Shields was chosen one of the two senators, his colleague being Henry M. Rice. Lots being drawn to determine the respective terms, the short one—two years—fell to Shields. At the end, as in Illinois, and from like cause, he failed of re-election, and soon he was again on the wing—this time for California.