agitation will grow out of it to endanger the measure, as the settled and permanent policy of the country.

In the first place, this question can never be settled by denying the debt. It is too notorious that we have had the money of our creditors, and they have had nothing in return. The sense of the universal world is, and always will be, that we owe them. This is an imperishable fact, which can never be forgotten. The question will always arise at every succeeding session of the legislature. We may deny the debt-we may plead non est factum to our bonds; but like the rogue, who seeks to cheat his creditor in private life, we will still owe the money; the benumbing consciousness of which, being registered on our hearts, will stick to us to plague us forever.

The question cannot be settled by asking and receiving a distributive share of the proceeds of the public lands. A fund so constituted will not amount to more than $50,000 dollars at first; and must annually diminish as the lands are sold. Such a measure would give no confidence that a provision had been made for the ultimate payment of either principal or interest of the debt.

The question cannot be settled by an assumption of the State debts by the United States, without doing as much injustice to some of the States as would be done to our creditors by open and avowed repudiation. Several of the States have no debt to pay, and yet their citizens, equally with ours, would be taxed to pay money which they have never enjoyed or contracted. It would be as honorable and honest, to cheat our creditors out of their interest as to wring it from others, who are under no obligation morally or legally to pay it. A law involving such monstrous injustice can never be passed or sanctioned by the American people.

The truth is we will have to rely on ourselves, upon our own exertions. We contracted the debt ourselves, and ourselves will have to pay it. We need look to no foreign aid. We must make bare our own right arms and come up to the work, appalling as it looks, like men.

This is a subject which has commanded my most anxious attention. have looked to this session of the General Assembly, and have fondly hoped that the fears of the people, and the blighting influence of an uncertain position, might now be put at rest forever.

It will be impossible to raise money enough by taxation to pay the entire interest; still something may be done. I would not propose a high nor an oppressive tax. I know too well the misfortunes and calamities of the people, to believe that such a tax could be collected. At the last session an increase of taxation was impracticable on account of a total want of money in the country. The same cause still lingers to some extent in some of the interior counties. The partial failure of crops for two years, the sickness of the last season, the floods and high waters in some places, it must be acknowledged, will present obstacles against doing as much as could be desired.

It is hoped, however, that these partial impediments may not be considered insuperable. There is no other practicable mode of settling this great question than by increasing the revenue. The additional burden will not have to be paid until the latter end of the next year, and the beginning of the year following. In the meantime relief might be given to the sufferers by high water, by extending the time for payment of the present taxes, and if the Constitution presented no barrier releasing them

entirely. In a year or so more, by the time such taxes will become due, it is hoped that a total recovery will be wrought in the pecuniary circumstances of the people.

In the year 1827, a portion of the land tax was first given to the counties. They were then universally in debt, and all of them needed an increase of their revenues for the erection of court houses and jails. These have been built long since, and most of the counties could have been free from debt with proper economy. With them a large revenue or a small one would answer the same purpose. A small one would be sufficient, and a large one is squandered to no useful purpose.

This land tax ought to be resumed to the State treasury. Frequent attempts have been made to effect this, but without success. The objection has always been that there was more land taxable in the old than in the new part of the State, and that the measure would be unequal. This objection has now lost its force, and no longer presents obstacles to this measure of true justice and economy.

I would recommend that the additional revenues thus derived, and such additional tax, as the legislature in their wisdom will provide for, be formed into a fund, the proceeds and increase of which shall be sacred, and dedicated to the extinction of a portion, however small at first, of the interest on the public debt.

Whatever we do in this way, ought to have the greatest permanency. There ought to exist no very considerable dissatisfaction in the public mind, and the nearer unanimous we all are upon it, the more permanent the measure would be. We ought to make it known to the whole world, that whatever may be done in this way, is all that ever will or can be done. Thus, by showing our willingness to contribute according to our ability, by making that our permanent policy; not to be added to or subtracted from in future; and by thus setting a limit to the fears and imaginations of men, in relation to the huge phantom of expected taxes, we might reasonably calculate to restore ourselves in the estimation of mankind, turn the tide of emigration again into our country, accompanied by wealth and intelligence. Land, again, would become of some value. There would be a demand for it at once, and our condition would be improved in every respect.

Every man of property in the State, and all have less or more, ought to desire the speedy and permanent settlement of this question. His property is of but little value, whilst the fears and terrors of high taxation prevail on one side, or unblushing, impudent repudiation, stares him in the face, on the other.

May the Supreme ruler of the universe, enlighten our understandings, to see what is best to promote the true interest of our consituents, and nerve our arms and hearts, with the courage to do it.

Springfield, Dec. 2, 1844.

THOMAS FORD.

Which was read.

Mr. Whiteside moved to lay the same on the table, and to print 6000 copies in English and 2000 in German.

Mr. Deskines moved to print 3000 in English.

Mr. Jackson of McHenry, moved to print 8000 in English.

Mr. Gregg moved to print 10,000 in English and 2000 in German.

Mr. Morrison called for a division of the question.

The question was then taken on ordering 10,000 copies of the Governor's message to be printed in English, and agreed to."

The question was then put on ordering 2000 copies to be printed in German, and agreed to. The yeas and nays, on the demand of Messrs. Morrison and Turley, as follows:

Those who voted in the affirmative, are,

Messrs. Adams, Aldrich, Alexander, Anderson of Lawrence, Anderson of St. Clair, Arenz, Armstrong, Arnold, Babbitt, Backenstos, Barnsback, Benedict, Blair, Boyakin, Bradley, Brinkley, Brown, Burnett, Butler, Campbell, Churchill, Cochran, Collins, Cox, Cushman, Davis of McLean, Denning, Deskines, Dunbar, Emerson, Funkhouser, Gregg, Haley, Hannaford, Hanson, Hardie, Harper, Henderson, Hendry, Hick, Hicks, Huffman, Jackson of McHenry, Jackson of Stark, Janney, Jewell, Kirkpatrick, Kuykendall, Leighton, Lockard, Logan, Loop, Lott, McDonald, Manning, Matthews, Miller of Adams, Miller of Fulton, Miller of Winnebago, Moore, Morrille, Morris, Morrison, Myers, Nye, O'Connor, Oglesby, Parrish, Pickering, Pitner, Pratt, Prevo, Randolph, Rawlings, Ricks, Robbins, Scott of De Witt, Scott of Macoupin, Sexton, Sharp, Sherman, Smith of Bureau, Smith of Sangamon, Stark weather, Starne, Stewart, Strong, Thompson, Tunnel, Turley, Vedder, Vineyard, Wagner, Warren, White of Menard, White of Washington, Whiteside, Wilcox, Wilkinson, Williams, Woollard, Wood, Woodburn, Yates, Youngkin, Zieber and Mr. Speaker.-108.

Those who voted in the negative, are.

Messrs. Davis of William son, Fletcher, Harriott, Herndon, Metz and White of Scott.-6.

Mr. Denning gave notice that he should, on to-morrow, or some other day, ask leave to introduce a bill to provide for the permanent location of the county seat of Alexander.

On motion,

The House then adjourned.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1844.

House met pursuant to adjournment.

L. W. Ross, a Representative from the county of Fulton, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

On motion of Mr. Miller, of Winnebago,

Resolved, By the House of Representatives of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, That Henry Smith, who appears as a Representative from the counties of Carroll and Stephenson, be sworn, and admitted to a seat in this House.

Whereupon,

Mr. Smith of Stephenson, was qualified, and took his seat.

On motion of Mr. Arnold,

Resolved, That when the House adjourn, it will adjourn for the day, in order that the Electoral College of the State of Illinois may meet in the hall of the House of Representatives, to vote for President and Vice President of the United States.

Mr. Robbins proposed for adoption the following resolutions:

Resolved, That it is the opinion of this House, that the Congress of the United States ought to make appropriations for the relief of the inhabitants of the Mississippi valley, who have suffered by the late high flood. Kesolved, by the House of Representatives the Senate concurring herein, That our Senators in Congress be instructed, and our Representatives earnestly requested, to use their exertions to procure the passage of a law having for its object the relief of citizens who have suffered by the said flood; and that a copy of these resolutions be forwarded as soon as practicable to our delegation in Congress.

On the question, shall said resolutions be adopted, it was decided in the negative.

Mr. Reed, member from the counties of Richland and Lawrence, appeared, was qualified, and took his seat.

Mr. Logan, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act to regulate mortgages on personal property;" which was read the first time, and

Ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Logan, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act to declare and establish the law in relation to garnishees on assignable instruments;" which was read the first time, and

Ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Boyakin, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act to amend the act entitled "An act relative to criminal jurisprudence;" which was read the first time, and

Ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Sharp, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act in relation to criminal jurisprudence;" which was read the first time, and

Ordered to a second reading.

A message from the Senate, by Mr. Prickett.

Mr. Speaker: I am directed by the Senate, to inform the House of Representatives, that they have concurred with them in the passage of a resolution having for its object the adoption of the joint rules of the last session of the General Assembly, as the rules of the present session until otherwise ordered.

Mr. Boyakin, on leave, introduced a bill for "An act to provide for equal taxation;" which was read the first time, and

Ordered to a second reading.

Mr. Logan moved that the rule of the House be dispensed with, and the bill be now read a second time by its title; which was not agreed to. Mr. Anderson of Lawrence, offered the following resolution, viz:

Resolved, That after the adjournment of this House on each day, the use of the Hall shall be reserved expressly for the use and accommodation of the respective committees in the prosecution of their legislative business, and for no other purpose, unless otherwise ordered by the House.

Mr. Smith of Sangamon, moved to lay the resolution on the table; which was not agreed to.

The resolution was then adopted.

On motion,

The House then adjourned.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1844.

House met pursuant to adjournment.

The Speaker announced the appointment of the following standing committees, viz:

On the Judiciary-Messrs. Manning, Benedict, Logan, Janney, Strong, Yates, Boyakin, Lott and Denning.

On Finance-Messrs. Gregg, Arnold, Cushman, Ross, Churchill, Harper, Starne, Whiteside and Zieber.

On Eletions-Messrs. Thompson, Moore, Myers, Babbitt, Henderson, Hicks, Deskines, Wood and Loop.

On the Militia-Messrs. Stewart, Cox, Campbell, Davis of Williamson, Randolph, Rawlings, Hick, Williams and Reed.

On Internal Improvements-Messrs. Hicks, Pickering, Kuykendall, Vedder, Wagner, Matthews, Morris, Turley and Metz.

On Education-Messrs. Hannaford, Logan, Brinkley, Morrison, Davis of McLean, Sherman, Cusiman, Starkweather and Woollard.

On Salines-Messrs. Hick, Starne, Cochran, Emerson, Oglesby, Youngkin, Sharp, Sexton and Huffman.

On Public Accounts and Expenditures-Messrs. Whiteside. Lott, Turley, Dunbar, Tunnel, Arenz, Wilkinson, White of Washington and Funkhouser.

On the Penitentiary-Messrs. McDonald, White of Washington, Scott of De Witt, Scott of Macoupin, Nye, Barnsback, Harriott, Anderson of St. Clair and White of Scott.

On the Canal and Canal Lands-Messrs. Arnold, Butler, Jewell, Morrille, Sharp, Dunbar, Miller of Winnebago, Stewart and Smith of Bureau.

On Manufactures and Agriculture-Messrs. Fletcher, Pratt, Burnett, Ricks, Aldrich, Oglesby, Haley, Vineyard and Tunnel.

On Claims-Messrs. Parrish, Brown, Funkhouser, Armstrong, Hendry, Hardie, Haley, Vineyard and Jackson of McHenry.

On Public Buildings and Grounds-Messrs. Bradley, Pratt, Adams, Smith of Sangamon, Cochran, Scott of De Witt, Smith of Stevenson, Steele and White of Menard.

On State Roads-Messrs. Miller of Fulton, Hanson, Jackson of McHenry, Leighton, Lockard, Sexton, Davis of Williamson, Brinkley and Collins.

On Counties-Messrs. Blair, Backenstos, Alexander, Kirkpatrick, Jackson of Stark, Warren, O'Connor, Hitt, Prevo, Robbins and Hanson. On Banks and Corporations--Messrs. Anderson of Lawrence, Berry, Benedict, Collins, Wilcox, Woodburn, Pitner, Miller of Adams and Herndon. On Engrossed Bills-Messrs. Ross, Nye, Aldrich, Starkweather, Loop and Kuykendall.

Mr. Bradley presented the petition of John Barrow and others, praying for the passage of a special act authorising the sale of certain lands described therein; which was read, and on his motion, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Mr. Ross presented the petition of sundry citizens of Fulton county,