Mr. Daley asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for "An act to amend an act, to create and establish the county of Jersey;" which was read the first time, and Ordered to a second reading. On motion of Mr. Allen of Greene, The rule of the House was dispensed with, and the bill read a second time by its title, and On motion of Mr. English, Was referred to a select committee. Ordered, That Messrs. English, Allen of Greene and Daley be that committee. Mr. Craig asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for “An act to locate a State road from Ottawa by Belvidere, to the State line in the direction of Belvit's;" which was read the first time, and Ordered to a second reading. On motion of Mr. Craig, The rule of the House was dispensed with, and the bill read a second time by its title, and Ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. On motion of Mr. McCutchen, Resolved, That the Board of Public Works be requested to furnish to this House, at as early a period as practicable, information as to the probable amount of money which may be necessary over and above the present liability of the State, for work done, to complete and put in operation all such work as has been contracted in continuous lines, from navigable rivers in this State. On motion of Mr. Walker of Vermilion, Resolved, That the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Judges of the Supreme Gourt, be requested to accept of seats within the bar of this House. On motion of Mr. Happy, Resolved, That the committee on Internal Improvements be instructed to enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill, providing for the re-organization of the Board of Public Works, so as to consist only of one member. Mr. Stapp moved to amend by adding "and to enquire into the expediency of repealing the law establishing the Board of Fund Commissioners." The resolution as amended was adopted. Mr. Ficklin offered for adoption the following resolution; which was not agreed to. Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the committee on Canals and Canal Lands, enquire into the propriety of having the canal lands valued by the Canal Commissioners, and exposed to sale at public vendue; the purchase money to be paid in ten equal annual instalments, with twelve per cent. interest upon the purchase money from the date of the sale, and all lands upon which the amount of the valuation money shall not be bid to be struck off to the State. The House then adjourned. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1839. House met pursuant to adjournment. Mr. Green, a representative from the county of Clay, appeared and took his seat. Mr. Gouge presented the petition of sundry citizens of Macon county, asking for a review and location of a State road therein named; the reading of which was on his motion dispensed with, and the same referred to the committee on State Roads. Mr. Robert Smith presented the petition of sundry citizens of Madison and St. Clair counties, praying the repeal of the act incorporating the northern division of the American bottom; the reading of which was on his motion dispensed with, and the same referred to a select committee. Ordered, That Messrs. Robert Smith, Morgan and Menard be that committee. Mr. Hankins presented the petition of sundry citizens of Effingham county, praying for an act to authorize H. B. Brockett to continue his mill-dam across Little Wabash river; the reading of which was on his motion dispensed with, and referred to a select committee. Ordered, That Messrs. Hankins, Green of Clay, and Simms be that committee. Mr. McCutchen presented the petition of Benjamin V. Zeal and others, for the incorporation of a manufacturing company in Schuyler county; which was read, and On motion of Mr. McCutchen, Ordered, That Messrs. McCutchen, Williams, and Crain be that committee. Mr. Dubois presented the petition of certain citizens of Lawrence county, for the benefit of Mr. W. R. Cunningham; the reading of which was on his motion dispensed with, and the same referred to a select com mittee. Ordered, That Messrs. Dubois, Ficklin, and Alexander be that committee. Mr. Daley from the select committee to which had been referred a bill for "An act, authorizing the School Commissioners of Greene county, to 'sell a section of land therein named;" reported the same back with an amendment; which was concurred in, and Ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. Mr. Robert Smith presented the petition of William Johnson, praying relief in relation to his free papers; which was read and referred to the committee on Judiciary. Mr. Hardin from the select committee to which had been referred the petition of sundry citizens of Scott county;" reported a bill for "An act to vacate a part of a State road in Scott county;" which was read the first time, and Ordered to a second reading, and On motion of Mr. Hardin, The rule of the House was dispensed with, and the bill read a second time by its title, and Ordered to be engrossed for a third reading. On motion of Mr. George Smith, Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That there shall be elected at the present session of the General Assembly, three competent persons well skilled in the laws, to revise and condense all laws of a general nature of this State, that shall be in force at the end of the present session of the General Assembly, and that they be required to lay the same before the next General Assembly, accompanied with a full and perfect index thereto. On motion of Mr. Walker of Vermilion, Resolved, That the commissioners of the Illinois and Michigan canal be directed to report to this House, the entire amount of money by them disbursed since the commencement of operations on said canal, under the head of contingent expenses, particularizing in said report each item of said disbursement, and the particular object to which each payment was made with the date of such payment. Mr. Daley moved the following resolution for adoption, viz: Resolved, That the committee on Elections be directed not to report to this House on the contested seat from Pike county, until all the important testimony shall be heard desired by either party, and that a reasonable time be given for both parties to procure their witnesses. Mr. Hardin moved to amend the resolution by striking out all after the word "Resolved," and inserting in lieu thereof the following: "That the committee on Elections be required to report the facts which may have come to their knowledge, in the investigation of the claim of Richard Kerr to his seat as a member of this House, so as to enable this House to decide whether it is necessary to postpone the final decision of Mr. Kerr's claim to his seat; which amendment was agreed to. The resolution as amended was adopted. On motion of Mr. Bowman, Resolved, That the Board of Commissioners of Public Works, be requested to communicate to this House the terms and conditions of the compact or agreement entered into between the said board and the Board of Internal Improvements of the State of Indiana, as authorized and directed by the 18th section of the act to establish and maintain a general system of Internal Improvements. On motion of Mr. Happy, Resolved, That the committee on Finance be instructed to report a bill to this House, so amending the revenue law, as to make it bear equally upon all merchants. On motion of Mr. Thomas of McLean, Resolved, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to enquire into the expediency of so amending the 6th section of the "act concerning taverns and grocery license;" approved March 2, 1839, as to permit any person without license, to vend spirituous liquors in quantities of not less than one quart, instead of one gallon, as now required by law. On motion of Mr. Happy, Resolved, That the committee on Internal Improvements be instructed to report a bill to this House, so amending the law providing for a general system of Internal Improvement, as to provide for the construction of not more than one road. Mr. Johnson moved to amend the resolution by adding: "and that it be referred to the vote of the people at the next general election, whether that road be made, which amendment was On motion of Mr. Marshall, Laid upon the table. Mr. Marshall moved to lay the resolution on the table; which was decided in the affirmative by yeas and nays, upon the call of Messrs. Happy and Churchill, as follows, to-wit: Those who voted in the affirmative, are, Messrs. Able, Aldrich, Allen of Franklin, Bainbridge, Bowman, Brown, Churchill, Craig, Crain, Cunningham, Dawson, Dubois, Dunn, Edwards, Elkin, Emmerson, Ficklin, Foster, Green of Clay, Gouge, Henderson, Huey, Hull, Kercheval, Lincoln, Logan, Marshall, Maus, McCormick, McMillan, Moore, Murphy of Cook, Murphy of Perry, Naper, Otwell, George Smith, Robert Smith, Thomas of McLean, Walker of Fulton, Walker of Vermilion, Williamson, Wood, and Zimmerman-44. Those who voted in the negative, are, Messrs. Alexander, Allen of Greene, Baker, Carpenter, Cloud, Copland, Daley, Edmonson, Elliott, English, Fisk, Green of Greene, Hankins, Happy, Hardin, Harlan, Harris, Henry, Holmes, Houston, Jarrott, Johnson, Jones, Love, Lyons, McCutchen, McWilliams, Menard, Morgan, Murphy of Vermilion, Nance, Pace, Phillips, Rawalt, Read, Roman, Simms, Stapp. Starr, Thomas of St. Clair, Webb, and Mr. Speaker-42. Mr. Dawson moved for adoption the following preamble and resolu tion: Whereas, The public mind appears to have undergone an entire change on the subject of Internal Improvements of the State; and whereas, it is the imperative duty of the representative to obey the will of his constituents, when fairly understood. Therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That a joint select committee be appointed of six on the part of the House, and three on the part of the Senate, to draft and report a bill on the following principles. Both branches, after the passage of the law, to meet in the Hall of the House of Representatives, and then and there vote for their respective roads. The road receiving the greatest number of votes to be in the first class and first made. The road receiving the next largest vote, to be the second class and second made, and so on through, until all be classed, and provide that the faith of the State be pledged in due time, to carry out all of said system, as the resources of the State will admit; which, On motion of Mr. Henderson, Was referred to the committee of the whole House, and made the spe cial order of the day for Monday next. Mr. Murphy of Cook moved for adoption the following resolution, viz: Resolved, That the committee on Internal Improvements be instructed to prepare and report to this House, a bill providing for the suspension until the first day of March, 1841, of all the public works commenced in this State, under an act entitled "An act to construet and maintain a general system of Internal Improvements." And also for the preservation as far as possible of the property of the State procured under said act. Mr. Churchill moved to amend the resolution by inserting after "works” the words, "together with the State House;" which was not agreed to. Mr. Dubois moved to amend the resolution by inserting after "works" the words "excepting the works on the large rivers.” On motion of Mr. Henderson, The résolution and amendment were committed to the same committee of the Whole, to which was committed the preamble and resolution offered by Mr. Dawson on this day, touching the same subject. On motion of Mr. Ficklin, Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the Fund Commissioners of the State of Illinois, be requested to lay before this House at an early day, a tabular statement of all monies received by said commissioners since the adjournment of the Legislature in March last. What amount of money has been deposited by them in banks, and to whose credit, whether to the credit of the State, of the Fund Commissioners, or of their friends or agents; and if any money obtained upon State bonds, has been deposited to the credit of any private individual, who is not the accredited officer of the State, and also the amount of money used by the Fund Commissioners, as travelling, contingent or other expenses, and the amount of funds belonging to the State, retained by them for defraying said expenses, and for their salary or compensation since the adjournment of the Legislature as aforesaid. And also, the amount of any charge or charges they may have made against the State for office rent, for conveying bonds to Europe or elsewhere, or for any other purpose whatsoever. On motion of Mr. Bowman, Resolved, That the commissioner of Public Works for the fourth Judicial Circuit, communicate to this House an exhibit of the amount of money expended by him upon the improvements of the Grand Rapids of the Great Wabash river; and also a report of the progress and condition of said work, and the probable amount it will cost to complete the same; when, On motion, The House adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M. TWO O'CLOCK, P. M. House met pursuant to adjournment. On motion of Mr. McMillan, Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the committee on the Judiciary be instructed to enquire into the expediency of allowing the counties of Edgar, Coles, and Vermilion, to hold an extra term of their Circuit Courts, and report by bill or otherwise. Mr. Marshall asked and obtained leave to introduce a bill for "An act to regulate the mode of proceeding in the redemption of real estate;" which was read the first time, and Ordered to a second reading. On motion of Mr. Marshall, The rule of the House was dispensed with, and the bill read a second time by its title, and referred to the committee on the Judiciary. |