In the gubernatorial election of 1822 there were four candidates for governor, two being anti-slavery and two pro-slavery in belief. Edward Coles, from Virginia, an anti-slavery man, was elected by a plurality of but a few votes. His election was due to a division in the ranks of the opposite party, as is shown by the fact that the pro-slavery party polled over 5300 votes, while the anti-slavery party polled only some 3300.(509) In his message of December 5, 1822, Governor Coles strongly urged the passage of a law to prevent kidnapping(510)—then a regular trade. This was referred to a select committee which reported as follows: “Your committee have carefully examined the laws upon the subject, and with deep regret announce their incapability of devising a more effectual plan than the one already prescribed by law for the suppression of such infamous crimes. It is believed that the benevolent views of the executive and the benign purposes of the statutes can only be realized by the redoubled diligence of our grand juries and our magistrates, aided by the well-directed support of all just and good men.”(511) The legislature was politically opposed to the governor, and the committee’s report sounds like the baldest irony. With the report was presented a scheme for introducing slavery into the state,(512) a scheme which eventually led to the vote of 1824.(513) The Constitution of Illinois provided that upon the vote of two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature, the question of calling a convention for the revision of the Constitution should be submitted to the people. For calling a convention only a majority vote from the people was necessary. This method of procedure the pro-slavery party determined upon. The two-thirds in favor of the project could be secured without difficulty in the senate, but in the house the desperate expedient of reconsidering the right of a member to a contested seat and seating his opponent was resorted to.(514) This being done the resolution to submit the question of a constitutional convention to the people was passed by a bare two-thirds vote in each house.(515) Of the eighteen men who voted against the resolution, eleven were natives of southern states, two of New York, two of Connecticut, one of Massachusetts, one of Vermont, and one of Sweden. There were some northern men who voted in favor of the resolution.(516) The campaign resulting from the passage of the convention resolution was waged for eighteen months with great vigor. Press and pulpit were actively employed.(517) A large anti-slavery society was formed in Morgan county,(518) and it was in all probability one of many such organizations. In August, 1824, came the final vote, and the official count of the votes showed a majority of 1668 against calling a constitutional convention.(519)