law of Congress to authorize the State of Illinois, by and through the Commissioners of Public Works, to enter lands along the several routes of Rail Roads and other improvements contemplated by the "Act to establish and maintain a general system of Internal Improvements," on a credit of ten years. Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives be also requested to procure the passage of a further provision grantto the State the right of way over the lands owned by the General Government within this State, to construct the projected works of Internal Improvement. Whereas, The Illinois and Michigan Canal has been looked upon as a national work, and grants of land from the General Government have been made to commence the same; Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives be requested to procure the passage of a law by Congress granting to this State further means to complete said work, upon such conditions as the Congress of the United States shall order and direct. Which was read; and On the question upon the adoption of said memorial and resolutions, It was decided in the affirmative.-Ayes 34. Noes 2. Messrs. Allen of Green, Allen of McLean, Bond, Borough, Craig, Edwards, Fletcher, Gatewood, Hackelton, Hacker, Hamlin, Herndon, Maxwell, Mills, Mitchell, Moore, Murray, Noel, O'Rear, Owen, Parrish, Pruyne, Reilley, Ross, Stadden, Thomas, Vance, Warren, Weatherford, Whiteside, Wight, Wood, and Mr. Speaker. Those voting in the negative, are Messrs. Lane and Servant. Ordered, That the Secretary inform the House of Representatives of the adoption of said memorial and resolutions, and ask their concurrence therein. 1 Mr. Gatewood, from the Committee on Internal Improvements, to which was referred the bill for "An act to suspend proceedings under the act to establish and maintain a general system of Internal Improvements, and for other purposes," Reported said bill back with an amendment; Which was read and concurred in.Ayes 24. Noes 13. Those voting in the affirmative, are Messrs. Allen of McLean, Bond, Edwards, Fletcher, Gate 1 1 wood, Hackelton, Hacker, Hamlin, Herndon, Mills, Mitchell, Moore, Murray, Noel, Owen, Parrish, Pruyne, Reilley, Servant, Stadden, Vance, Warren, Wight and Wood. Those voting in the negative, are Messis, Allen of Green, Borough, Browning, Butler, Craig, Lane, Maxwell O'Rear, Ross, Thomas, Weatherford, Whiteside and Mr. Speaker. Ordered to be engrossed as amended for a third reading. Mr. Pruyne asked and obtained leave to present the petition of sundry citizens of McHenry county, praying the formation of a new county; Which was read; and On motion of Mr. Ross, Mr. Servant, from the select committee to which was referred the bill for "An act for the purposes therein mentioned;" Ordered, That said bill be engrossed as amended for a third reading. Mr. Allen of Green, from the select committee to which was referred the bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act concerning Calvin's Slough," Reported said bill back with an amendment; Which was read and concurred in. Ordered to a third reading as amended. A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. Flood, their Clerk pro tem. MR. SPEAKER: The House of Representatives have concurred with the Senate in the passage of the bill, entitled "An act to incorporate the City of Alton," As amended by them; In which amendment they ask the concurrence of the Senate. They have passed a bill, entitled "An act to incorporate the Alton Ferry Company;" In the passage of which, they ask the concurrence of the Senate. And he withdrew. Mr. Gatewood, from the Committce on Internal Improvements, to which was referred that part of the Governor's Message, recommending a repeal of the Internal Improvement System, submitted the following report, viz: That they have had the subject under consideration, not only at the present session of the Legislature, but some time before, and also at the time of the passage of the act which it is recommended to repeal. Your committee can see nothing in the arguments of his Excellency to induce them to change their opinion. They have not come to the conclusion yet that Joint Stock Companies are the best mode of constructing public works. When we consider the amount of patronage which it is said will be thrown into the hands of the Government by this bill, that the Government constituted by the people, under their control and responsible to them, and compare it with the amount of power and influence which by the joint stock company system will devolve upon private corporations and avaircious individuals; and who too are wholly irresponsible to the people of this Government, and after their creation beyond its control, we cannot hesitate which of the two to choose. This question we have revolved before, decided in the system adopted, and feel the same dispositions to adhere to it as his Excellency seems to feel to resist it. Our opinions on this subject are mutually unchanged, and we presume, unchangeable. The creation does not require at our hands an elaborate argument. We are well aware that the system, yet in its infancy, cannot display the beauties of manhood, and is as liable to the strictures of the critic and condemnation of the amateur, as the awkward address of youth first entering polished and refined society; but feeling ourselves snstained by every principle of regard to public good, and by the public voice itself, we cannot abandon it to favor an illegitimate offspring, but fervently hope for ultimate perfection. Owing to the imperfection of all human operations, however wisely planned, there may be errors and imperfections in the commencement, and in the progress of this undertaking, which it will be the duty of those who feel concerned to correct and reform, and it will be their pleasure at all times so. to do. But objections from hostile quarters to the execution of the design does not impair our confidence in the wisdom of the design itself. Therefore, Resolved, That we have undiminished confidence in the practicability and incalculable advantages of the system of Internal Improvement throughout the State as adopted at the last session of the Legislature. Which was read. Mr. Gatewood moved to lay said report and resolutions on the table and print one thousand copies. A division of the question. being called for, The question was then taken on laying said report and resolutions on the table, and Decided in the affirmative-Ayes 23; Noés 14. Those voting in the affirmative, are Messrs. Allen of Green, Allen of McLean, Borough, Browning, Craig, Fletcher, Gatewood, Hackelton, Hamlin, Mitchell, Moore, Murray, Noel, O'Rear, Owen, Pruyne, Stadden, Thomas, Turney, Weatherford, Whiteside, Wight and Wood. Those voting in the negative, are Messrs. Bond, Butler, Edwards, Hacker, Lane, Maxwell, Mills, Parrish, Reilley, Ross, Servant, Vance, Warren, and Mr. Speaker. The question was then taken on printing 1000 copies, which was decided in the affirmative-Ayes, 20,-Noes, 17. Those voting in the affirmative, are Messrs. Allen of Green, Bond, Fletcher, Gatewood, Hackelton, Hacker, Mills, Mitchell, Murray, Noel, Owen, Parrish, Pruyne, Reilley, Stadden, Warren, Whiteside, Wight, Wood, and Mr. Speaker. Those voting in the negative, are Messrs. Allen of McLean, Borough, Browning, Butler Craig, Edwards, Hamlin, Lane, Maxwell, Moore, O'Rear, Ross, Servant, Thomas, Turney, Vance, and Weatherford. Mr. Gatewood, from the select committee to which was referred the bill for "An act to amend an act, entitled an act to increase the capital stock of certain Banks," &c. Reported the same back with an amendment; Which was read, and concurred in, Ordered, That said bill as amended be engrossed for a third reading. Mr. Mills, from the select committee to which was referred the bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act concerning a State road in Edwards county," Reported said bill back with an amendment; N Which was read and concurred in. Ordered, That said bill as amended be read a third time. The rule of the Senate was dispensed with, and Said bill was read a third time by its title, and passed. Ordered, That the title of the bill be as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof, and ask their concurrence to the amendment thereto. The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to amend an act to incorporate the town of Carlinville, approved 4th, March 1837;" Was read a third time as amended, and passed. On motion of Mr. Weatherford, The title was amended by adding thereto the words "and for other purposes." Ordered, That the title be as amended, and that the Secrepassage of tary inform the House of Representatives of the said bill, and ask their concurrence in the amendments of the Senate thereto, and to the title thereof. The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act concerning the town of Cincinnati, in the county of Tazewell," Was read the third time; and On motion of Mr. Mitchell, Referred to a select committee. Ordered, That Messrs. Mitchell, Wight, and Pruyne, be that committee. The bill from the House of Representatives, entitled "An act to locate a State road from East Nelson, in Shelby county, to LeRoy, in McLean county, Was read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the title, be as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives thereof. The engrossed bills of the following titles, viz: "An actin relation to certain public roads therein named,” and "An act for the relief of Nathaniel Pope and others," Were severally read the third time, and passed. Ordered, That the title of said bills be respectively as aforesaid, and that the Secretary inform the House of Representatives of the passage thereof, and ask their concurrence therein. The engrossed bill entitled "An act for the purpose therein named," |