WHEREAS, there are persons now living in this State, who in early life, and when our country was a wilderness, settled here and encountered the dangers of the tomahawk and scalping knife of the savage, together with the privations incident to the settlement of a new country; and when war was declared between this country and Great Britain, gallantly defended its interests, vindicated its rights, and endured hardships equal to those for whom Congress has provided pensions and other modes of relief;

And wheress, the Government of the United States has made no provision for those persons, or for the families of those who lost their lives in that service; and as these fathers of the country and its early pioneers are fast sinking into the grave, unheeded and unprovided for by the Government and country they have so faithfully and efficiently served, many of whom, in consequence of exposure and hardships encountered in the service of their country, as well as on account of their advanced age, being unfitted to support and maintain themselves during their decling years: Therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we deem it due to the persons employed in the ranging service of the United States during the last war, that their names should be placed upon the pension lists of the United States, upon the same terms and footing as others to whom pensions have been granted by our National Government.

Resolved by the General Assembly, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives be requested to use their best exertions to procure the passage of an act of the Congress of the United States for carrying into effect the provisions contemplated in the foregoing preamble and resolutions.

The resolution offered by Mr. McRoberts, on the 8th instant, for the appointment of a select committee to establish the requisite number of standing committees for the Senate, was taken up, and,

On motion of Mr. Dougherty,

Was laid on the table.

Mr. Gillespie, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act to amend an act concerning wills;" which was read, and

Ordered to a second reading.

Mr. McRoberts, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act to amend an act relative to practice in the Circuit Courts;" which was read, and Ordered to a second reading.

On motion of Mr. Constable,

The order of business was suspended, to enable him to introduce the following resolution; and the rule having been dispensed with, the resolution was taken up, read and adopted:

Resolved, That the Honorable Ex-Governor Ford, acting heretofore as ex-officio Fund Commissioner, be requested, at as early a moment as convenient, to communicate to this body what action has been taken in connexion with a disposition of the rail-road lying between the city of Springfield and the town of Meredosia; whether the same has been disposed of as contemplated under the law relating to this subject; and if not, why it has not been so done; also, that he suggest what course, from the knowledge he has acquired of the subject matter, had better be pursued, in order to secure its sale; and such circumstances as will secure its continuance in active operation.

Mr. Judd, under the continued suspension of the order of business, offered the following resolution; and the rule having been dispensed with, the resolution was taken up, read and adopted:

Resolved, That the Governor be respectfully requested to communicate to the Senate the amount awarded to Canal contractors, for damages, by the board of appraisers, appointed under an act entitled "An act to provide for the completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and for the payment of the Canal debt," approved February 21st, 1844; and, further, that he communicate to us the amount which has been paid under said award, and the kind of funds in which the same was paid, and the amount remaining unpaid.

The bill entitled "An act to repeal the fifteenth chapter of the Revised Statutes," was read the second time; when,

On motion,

The Senate adjourned until 2 o'clock, P. M.

TWO O'CLOCK, P. M.

Senate met, pursuant to adjournment.

The question pending at the adjournment was-Shall the bill for "An act to repeal the fifteenth chapter of the Revised Statutes," be engrossed for a third reading?

Mr. Judd moved that the bill be laid upon the table.

Mr. Judd moved a call of the Senate.

Pending the call,

On motion of Mr. Cavarly,

Ordered, That five thousand copies of the Inaugural Address of his Excellency Governor French, be printed, for the use of the Senate.

Mr. Matteson moved to print two thousand additional copies of the same in the German language.

Mr. Boal moved to amend the motion, by inserting "French, Irish and Norwegian;" which amendment,

On motion of Mr. Cavarly,

Was laid on the table.

Mr. Harris moved that one thousand copies be printed in the German language.

Mr. Killpatrick moved to lay the motion, together with the amendment, on the table.

The question then being taken thereon, was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays, as follows:

Those voting in the affirmative, are,

Messrs. Allison, Boal, Catlin, Denny, Dougherty, Edwards, Gillespie, Hanson, Henry, Killpatrick, McMillan, Miller, Morrison, Noble, Powers, Reddick and Webb-17.

Those voting in the negative, are,

Messrs. Brown, Cavarly, Davis of Hancock, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Dunlap, Harris, Henry, Judd, Leviston, McRoberts, Markley, Matteson, Sanger, Smith, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren and Wilcox-18.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. McDonald, their Clerk:

Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the Senate, that the House of Representatives have adopted the following resolution:

Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring herein, That, in addition to the time now allowed to the Secretary of State, as Superintendent of Common Schools under the fifth section of the "Act to establish and maintain common schools," approved, February 26th, A. D. 1845, to make his report to the Governor, he be allowed from the time required in said section until the second Monday in January next.

In the adoption of which, they ask the concurrence of the Senate. The House have concurred with the Senate in the passage of a joint resolution, having for its object the election of a United States Senator, on Saturday next, at 2 o'clock, P. M.

Mr. Edwards moved to amend the amendment, by striking it out, and adding in lieu thereof:

"That one thousand copies of the Governor's Inaugural Address, ordered to be printed to-day, be printed in the German language, for distribution by the Senate."

Mr. Dougherty moved to lay the amendment to the amendment on the table; and,

The question being taken thereon, it was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays, as follows:

Those voting in the affirmative, aré,

Messrs. Dougherty, Henry, Leviston, McMillan, Markley, Matteson, Noble and Wilcox-8.

Those voting in the negative, are,

Messrs. Allison, Boal, Brown, Catlin, Cavarly, Davis of Hancock, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Denny, Dunlap, Edwards, Gillespie, Hanson, Harris, Judd, Kilpatrick, McRoberts, Miller, Morrison, Powers, Reddick, Smith, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren and Webb-26.

The question then being taken on the adoption of the amendment to the amendment, as proposed by Mr. Edwards, it was decided in the affirmative, by yeas and nays, as follows:

Those voting in the affirmative, are,

Messrs. Allison, Boal, Brown, Catlin, Davis of Hancock, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Denny, Edwards, Gillespie, Hanson, Harris, Henry, Killpatrick, Morrison, Powers, Reddick, Smith and Webb-19.

Those voting in the negative, are,

Messis. Cavarly, Dougherty, Judd, Leviston, McMillan, McRoberts, Markley, Matteson, Miller, Sanger, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren and Wilcox-14.

Mr. Catlin moved to lay the motion and amendments on the table, and The question being taken thereon, it was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays, as follows:

Those voting in the affirmative, are,

Messrs. Allison, Boal, Catlin, Hanson, Henry, Killpatrick, McMillan, McRoberts, Powers and Webb-10.

Those voting in the negative, are,

Messrs. Brown, Cavarly, Davis of Hancock, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Denny, Dougherty, Dunlap, Edwards, Gillespie, Harris, Judd, Leviston,

Markley, Matteson, Miller, Morrison, Reddick, Sanger, Smith, Stephenson, Sutphin, Warren and Wilcox-24.

Mr. Dougherty moved to lay the amendment, as amended, on the table, and

The question being taken thereon, it was decided in the negative, by yeas and nays; as follows:

Those voting in the affirmative, are,

Messrs. Allison, Cavarly, Dougherty, Dunlap, Henry, Judd, Leviston, McRoberts, Markley, Matteson, Stephenson, Warren and Wilcox-13. Those voting in the negative, are,

Messrs. Boal, Brown, Catlin, Davis of Hancock, Davis of Massac, Dennis, Denny, Edwards, Gillespie, Hanson, Harris, Killpatrick, Miller, Morrison, Noble, Powers, Reddick, Smith and Webb-19.

Mr. Webb moved to adjourn.

Which was not agreed to.

The question being then taken-Shall the motion to print two thousand copies be amended by substituting in lieu of it the amendment as amended?

It was decided in the negative.

Mr. Matteson then modified his motion, so as to make it one to print one thousand copies of said address in the German language.

The question being taken on the proposition so to print one thousand copies, for the use of the Senate,

It was decided in the affirmative.

Ou motion,

The Senate adjourned.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1846.

Senate met, pursuant to adjournment.

Prayer, by the Rev. Mr. Barger.

The Speaker laid before the Senate a written communication from ExGovernor Ford, in answer to a resolution of the Senate, of the 10th inst., upon the subject of the Springfield and Meredosia rail-road.

On motion of Mr. Killpatrick,

It was laid on the table.

A message from the House of Representatives, by Mr. McDonald, their Clerk:

Mr. Speaker: I am directed to inform the Senate that the House of Representatives have adopted the following preamble and resolutions, in the adoption of which they ask the concurrence of the Senate:

WHEREAS, the war now existing between the United States and the Republic of Mexico has been brought on by the most unparalled system of insult and aggression on the part of our enemy, who has not only repeatedly refused to fulfil treaty stipulations sacredly entered into for the indemnification of injuries sustained by American citizens, and insultingly rejected an accredited minister of the United States who had been invited within her borders for the purpose of arranging boundary difficul ties; but has, on false assumptions and grounds wholly untenable, entered

our territory and murdered our citizens, thus compelling our authorities to throw aside the amicable feelings entertained towards a neighbor aiming to maintain a popular government similar to our own, and to resort to the last arbitration of nations in order to sustain our citizens in their rights, to drive from our boundaries an insolent invader, and to preserve from desecration the honor of our nation: And whereas, our government is so constituted that the prime source of all power is in the people, and that that their sentiments and opinions expressed to the more remote authorities through their immediate representatives form the basis of all cor. rect action on the part of the Government, it becomes our duty as Repre sentatives of the people of a State that gave the strongest expresssion in favor of a measure which is made the ostensible cause of the hostile attitude of Mexico, to express our feelings in this important crisis of the war, and to tender to the administration a hearty co-operation; therefore,

Be it resolved by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That we approve of the course pursued by the United States Government in sending the army of occupation" into our territory on the Rio Grande, when the intolerable braggadocia of the insolent Mexicans, and their concentration of forces for the invasion of our soil, rendered a war inevitable, and that this course alone could have preserved us from an invasion disgraceful to our national honor, and disastrous to our south-western frontier settlements.

2. Resolved, That the prompt and efficient manner in which the Congress of the United States, when the first sound of collision was heard in the capitol, stepped forward and voted to the commander in chief "the sinews of war," meets with our most cordial approbation, and that we have no hesitation in believing that the same spirit which led them to afford the means for opening the war with a brilliant train of victories, will urge them to vote supplies to enable our gallant army to close hostilities speedily, and to cover itself with unfading laurels.

3. Resolve, That the rush of volunteers from every portion of our extended territory, in answer to the call of the President, evinces to the world the innate strength of our Government, and the grandeur of its institutions, and must satisfy all that a citizen soldiery defending their own homes and firesides, is a most efficient means of defence, and a wall of strength that cannot be broken down.

4. Resolved, That the gallant bearing of our army on the fields of Palo Alto and the Resaca de la Palma, and before the battered walls of Monterey, calls for expressions of the warmest approbation; and that the feats of individual bravery and personal daring exhibited on these occasions by our regular forces and enthusiastic volunteers, are not eclipsed by any achievments that adorn and brighten the pages of history.

5. Resolved, That we have the most unlimited confidence in the skill and gallantry of our navy, and from the able manner in which it has been brought to bear upon the defence of our commerce and the prosecution of hostile demonstrations by the enemy, we may be well assured that when called upon to act further, its operations will not be eclipsed even by the brilliant achievments of our victorious army.

6. Resolved, That great credit is due to the noble sons of Illinois, who, when the government called for troops for the Mexican war, hurried in crowds to the rescue of their country, and, for four thousand called, offered