dary line of the state, by the purchase from the Indians of a stripe of ter. ritory extending from the Illinois to to the Lake, with an eye single to this project, by the act of Congress granting right of way to the state, and by the subsequent act granting lands of value sufficient to defray the whole cost of the work. It has always been regarded as a national work, and the nation having furnished the means for its execution, have a right to expect that the work shall be projected and executed in a manner suited to the charac⚫ ter and views of an enlightened and united people. The fund for this purpose is admitted on all hands to be ample, and no citizen of Hlinois ought to be willing to see the faith of the state violated, public expecta. tion disappointed, and the benificence of the national government abused by authorizing any other description of work. The question may be confidently asked-Why should any one desire to disappoint the hopes and expectations of the nation in regard to the character of this work? Can it be supposed that the nation would have extended assistance by so large and extensive a grant of lands towards the execution of a project purely local, a project which at best would not accomodate the trade of Illinois alone five years hence. To engage in such a project would be sporting with the bounty of the nation, and degrading to the character of the state. Who among us would be willing to stand forth before an enlightened, liberal, and magnanimous nation and proclaim the sentiment: the nation has furnished us with means to execute a great national work, and although, by accepting those means, we stand pledged to use them for the purpose intended, yet as a work of a totally different and greatly inferior character, can be exccuted for one half the amount furnished, we will make such a work, and vest the other half of those means in bank stock, or in improvements of a character purely local. If there be among us any who would be willing to assume such an attitude, and in the face of the world proclaim such a sentiment, it is to be hoped, for the honor of the people and dignity of the state, none such can be found in the walls of the Legislature. Such a sentiment strikes at the very foundation of the public faith, and if aeted upon, would lead to a total subversion and overthrow of our free institutions. The proposition is too monstrous, and involves consequences too disastrous to be entertained for a moment; and your committee will not act upon the presumption, nor indulge the idea that any citizen of Illinois will ever be found giving countenance to such a sentiment. Your commit. tee are satisfied that the Canal Lands will defray all expenditures required in the construction of the canal, upon the enlarged plan proposed by the Canal Commissioners; and they hope to see the time when its navigation will be made FREE to all the people of these United States. There should be no question asked, iu regard to a supply of water from any other source than the Lake, so long as it is known that the means furnished by the nation are amply sufficient to execute the work, In the completion of such a project, computations of time should be made with reference to the existence of the Union, and not with reference to the growth of a village. If, contrary to all calculation, eight or even fifteen years shall be required in its completion, this would not justify the State or the people in a violation of their plighted faith.— The time is not distant when Illinois must at stand the head, and in the front of all the western states, and when that time shall arrive, nothing could be a source of greater mortification to her citizens or her sisters, than a knowledge that, in her infancy, she had been guilty of a violation of public faith. In the investigation of the subject, it has been the desire of the committee to avoid all collision with local interest, and all reference to persons. No personal application is intended of any remark or expression contained in this report; the occasion seemed to aemand a full and free investigation of all the subjects and projects presented for consideration, and if any shall suppose that any personal allusion has been made, such supposition has no foundation in the intention of the committee. Your committee do believe that the projected changes in the plan of the canal have been borught forward without a full and due consideration of the consequences likely to result from their adoption; and that if more time had been taken for consideration and the exam. ination of facts, such propositions would never have been submitted to the consideration of this general assembly. Your committee are of the opinion that a lateral canal connecting the waters of the Illinois and Michigan canal with the waters of the Calamic is practicable, and will probably be required at some future time. Before any expenditure of money is authorized for that purpose, the consent of the state of Indiana should be obtaind to the use of the water of that stream, and an agreement irrevocable, except by the con sent of both states, should be entered into, fixing the terms upon which the water may be used, and the terms upon which the citizens of Illinois shall be allowed to navigate the said river. Your committee highly approve of the decision of the commissioners fixing the size and dimensions of the canal, and they cannot but re. mark, that nothing but the greatest industry and attention to their duties could have enabled the commissioners to have made such progress in the prosecution of the work. It appears from the report of the commissioners, that no addition'will be required to the canal fund during the present year, but that provi sion must be made for the year 1838. For this purpose, it is proposed to sell alternate lots in the town at the termination of the canal, and other towns along the line, to the amount of one million of dollars, and to authorize a further loan of five hundred thousand dollars, in the event of that amount being required. In the present state of things it is deemed bad policy to bring into market any of the canal lands. It is believǝd that under the provisions of an act passed during the present sesston, those lands can be protec. ted against all further depredations. To carry out the views of the committee, they report a bill, and recommend its passage. Since the foregoing report was prepared, a proposition has been submitted to the committee by certain citizens of Ottawa, proposing to undertake the improvement of the Illinois river from the foot of the rapids to the mouth of Fox river, upon the plan proposed by Mr. Hurd in his report, for half the water power, and half the south half of section 15. half the N. E. qr. of section 21, and half the S. E qr. of 17, in T. 33 N. R., 2 East, to be divided with the state by alternate lots or for $75,000. A proposition has also been submitted by certain citizens of Chicago, proposing to construct an independent canal from the present termination to Fox river, for sections 13 and 15, and that small fraction of section 21, on the north side of the Illinois river, in T. 33 N. R., 1 East. Your committee have no authoriry to consider these proposi tions, and if they had, they would not advise the acceptance of either. On motion of Mr. Turney, The reading of the aforesaid report was dispensed with, and it was Ordered, That the said report be laid on the table, and 3,500 copies thereof printed. Mr. Thomas, from the same committee, also reported a bill entitled "An act to amend the act entitled an act for the construction of the Hlinois and Michigan canal," Which was read, and Ordered To a second reading. On motion of Mr. Hacker, The rule of the Senate was dispensed with, and "An act to authorize the person therein named to construct a mill dam," "An act declaring the road from Covington in Washington county by Nashville to Pinckneyville in Perry county a state road," "An act to incorporate the Chester, Nashville, and Pinckneyville Rail Road Company," Were severally read the third time and Passed. The engrossed bill entitled "An act to incorporate the Pike county Maufacturing Company," Was read the third time, and On motion of Mr. Ross, Amended by inserting 'county' after 'Pike,' and Passed as amended. Ordered, That the titles of the aforesaid bills be respectively as aforesaid, and that the Secretary uform the House of Representatives of the passage thereof, and ask their concurrence therein. The bills from the House of Representatives of the following titles, viz: “An act to establish a state road from Danville to Ottawa," "An act to incorporate the town of Upper Alton," and "An act to incorporate the Mississippi and Rock River Canal Company," Were severally read the third time and Passed. The ayes and noes being called for on the question of the passage of the last mentioned bill, Those voting in the affirmative are— Messrs. Allen of Greene, Allen of McLean, Borrough, Browning, Butler, Craig, Edwards, Fletcher, Gatewood, Hacker, Hamlin, Lane, Maxwell, McLaughlin, Mitchell, Murray, O'Rear, Owen, Parker, Pruyne, Reilley, Ross, Servant, Stadden, Thomas, Turney, Vance, Warren, Whiteside of Monroe, Whiteside of Pope, Wood, and Mr. Speaker.-32. In the negative Messrs. Noel, Parrish, and Weatherford-3. Ordered, That the titles of the bills be respectively as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives of the passage thereof, and ask their concurrence therein. The bills from the House of Representatives, of the following titles, viz: "An act to locate a state road from Carlinville in Macoupin county to Greenville in Bond county," and "An act to locate a state road from Meredosia to Warsaw," Were severally read the third time, as amended, and Passed. Ordered, That the titles be respectively as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives of the passage thereof and ask their concurrence in theamendments of the Senate thereto. The engrossed bill, entitled "An act making certain appropriations to the county of Coles to build certain bridges therein named, and for other purposes," Was read the third time, and On motion of Mr. Reilley, Referred to a select committee. Ordered, That Messrs. Reilley, Parker and Mills be that committee. The bill entitled "An act concerning the State Treasury, and for other purposes," Was read a second time, and On motion of Mr. Gatewood, Referred to the committee on Finance. A message from the House of Representatives by Mr. Prickett their clerk MR. SPEAKER: The House of Representatives have concurred with the Senate in the adoption of the resolution from the Senate providing for the appointment of a joint select committee, to contract with some suitable person or persons to finish the joiner work of three rooms in the lower part of the State House, &c. and have appointed Messrs. Hankins, Stuntz and Lane the committee on their part. They have also concurred with the Senate in the adoption of the preamble and resolution from the Senate, requiring the Secretary of State, to cause to be published, &c., a bill entitled, "An act to ascertain the county line between the counties of Morgan and Sangamon," As amended by them, in which amendments they ask the concurrence of the Senate, And be withdrew.. Mr. Speaker having announced that the Senate were about to proceed to the consideration of executive business, The doors were closed, and On opening the doors, On motion, The Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M. Two o'clock, P. M. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. On motion of Mr. Weatherford, The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to construct a rail road from Naples to Jacksonville," Which had heretofore been laid upon the table, Was taken up, and Passed. Ordered, That the title of the bill be as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives of the passage thereof. Mr. Ross, from the select committee to which was referred the bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to incorporate the Quincy, Jacksonville and Springfield Turnpike Company," Reported said bill back without amendment, and it was |