sentences:  In 1824, Coles appointed Birkbeck as Secretary of State of Illinois.Birkbeck served for three months, but was turned out when the proslavery majority in the state Senate refused to confirm his appointment.Albion also became the Edwards county seat, although residents of Mount Carmel across the river attempted to retrieve some court records by force, and ultimately succeeded in splitting off their area as Wabash County, Illinois.