Kercheval, Logan, Murphy of Cook, Murphy of Perry, Nance, Naper, Bowman, Simms, Walker of Vermilion, Williamson, Wood, Zimmerman, and Mr. Speaker-20. Those who voted for Mr. Brooks, are, Messrs. Able, Alexander, Allen of Franklin, Allen of Greene, Bainbridge, Brown, Carpenter, Cloud, Copland, Daley, Edmonson, English, Fisk, Foster, Green of Greene, Gouge, Happy, Harris, Love, McWilliams, Moore, Morgan, Pace, Robert Smith, and Thomas of St. Clair-24. Those who voted for Mr. Kellogg, are, Messrs. Aldrich, Baker, Bowman, Craig, Cunningham, Dawson, Dubois, Dunn, Edwards, Elkin, Elliott, Emmerson, Hardin, Harlan, Henderson, Henry, Holmes, Hull, Jarrott, Johnson, Jones, Lincoln, Lyons, Marshall, Maus, McCutchen, McMillan, McCormick, Menard, Murphy of Vermilion, Otwell, Phillips, Rawalt, Read, Roberts, Gouge, Smith, Stapp, Starr, Thomas of McLean, Walker of Fulton, Webb, and Williams-42. No election having been made, the vote was taken a third time, and resulted as follows: For Mr. Berry seven votes, for Mr. Brooks thirty-eight votes, and for Mr. Kellogg, forty-one votes. Those who voted for Mr. Berry, are, Messrs. Ficklin, Kercheval, Murphy of Cook, Simms, Walker of Fulton, Webb, and Williamson-7. Those who voted for Mr. Brooks, are, Messrs. Able, Alexander, Allen of Franklin, Allen of Greene, Bainbridge, Brown, Carpenter, Churchill, Cloud, Copland, Crain, Daley, Edmonson, English, Fisk, Foster, Green of Greene, Gouge, Happy, Han-. kins, Harris, Houston, Huey, Love, McWilliams, Moore, Morgan, Murphy of Perry, Nance, Naper, Pace, Roman, Robert Smith, Thomas of St. Clair, Walker of Vermilion, Wood, Zimmerman, and Mr. Speaker-38. Those who voted for Mr. Kellogg, are, Messrs. Aldrich, Baker, Bowman, Craig, Cunningham, Dawson, Dubois, Dunn, Edwards, Elliott, Elkin, Emmerson, Hardin, Harlan, Henderson, Henry, Holmes, Hull, Jarrott, Johnson, Jones, Lincoln, Logan, Lyons, Marshall, Maus, McCormick, McMillan, McCutchen, Menard, Murphy of Vermilion, Otwell, Phillips, Rawalt, Read, Roberts, Gouge, Smith, Stapp, Starr, Thomas of McLean, and Williams-41. No election being yet made, the vote was taken a fourth time, and stood as follows: For Mr. Berry, four votes, for Mr. Brooks, forty-two votes, and for Mr. Kellogg, forty votes. Those who voted for Mr. Berry, are, Messrs. Allen of Greene, Ficklin, Stapp, and Walker of Fulton. Messrs. Able, Alexander, Allen of Franklin, Bainbridge, Brown, Carpenter, Churchill, Cloud, Copland, Crain, Daley, Edmonson, English, Fisk, Foster, Green of Greene, Gouge, Hankins, Happy, Harris, Houston, Huey, Kercheval, Logan, Love, McWilliams, Moore, Morgan, Murphy of Cook, Murphy of Perry, Nance, Naper, Pace, Roman, Simms, Robert Smith, Thomas of St. Clair, Walker of Vermilion, Williamson, Wood, Zimmerman, and Mr. Speaker-42. Those who voted for Mr. Kellogg, are, Messrs. Aldrich, Baker, Bowman, Craig, Cunningham, Dawson, Dubois, Dunn, Edwards, Elliott, Elkin, Emmerson, Hardin, Harlan, Henderson, Henry, Holmes, Hull, Jarrott, Johnson, Jones, Lincoln, Lyons, Marshall, Maus, McCormick, McCutchen, McMillan, Menard, Murphy of Vermilion, Otwell, Phillips, Rawalt, Read, Roberts, Gouge, Smith, Starr, Thomas of McLean, Webb, and Williams-40. No election being yet made, the vote was taken the fifth time, and stood as follows: For Mr. Berry, twenty-nine votes, for Mr. Brooks, twenty votes, for Mr. Kellogg, thirty-seven votes. Those who voted for Mr. Berry, are, Messrs. Able, Aldrich, Carpenter, Churchill, Crain, Edmonson, English, Ficklin, Foster, Gouge, Hankins, Houston, Huey, Kercheval, Logan, Murphy of Cook, Murphy of Perry, Murphy of Vermilion, Naper, Roman, Simms, Stapp, Walker of Vermilion, Walker of Fulton, Webb, Williamson, Wood, Zimmerman, and Mr. Speaker—29. Those who voted for Mr. Brooks, are, Messrs. Alexander, Allen of Franklin, Allen of Greene, Bainbridge, Brown, Cloud, Copland, Daley, Fisk, Green of Greene, Happy, Harris, Love, McWilliams, Moore, Morgan, Nance, Pace, Robert Smith, and Thomas of St. Clair-20. Those who voted for Mr. Kellogg, are, Messrs. Baker, Bowman, Craig, Cunningham, Dawson, Dubois, Dunn, Edwards, Elliott, Elkin, Enimerson, Hardin, Harlan, Henderson, Henry, Holmes, Hull, Jarrott, Johnson, Jones, Lincoln, Lyons, Marshall, Maus, McCormick, McCutchen, McMillan, Menard, Otwell, Phillips, Rawalt, Read, Roberts, Gouge, Smith, Starr, Thomas of McLean, and Williams-37. No election being yet made, the vote was taken the sixth time, and resulted as follows: For Mr. Berry, forty-four votes, for Mr. Kellogg, forty votes, and Mr. Jones, two votes. Those who voted for Mr. Berry, are, Messrs. Able, Alexander, Allen of Franklin, Allen of Greene, Bainbridge, Brown, Carpenter, Churchill, Cloud, Copland, Crain, Edmonson, English, Ficklin, Foster, Green of Greene, Gouge, Hankins, Happy, Harris, Houston, Huey, Kercheval, Logan, Love, McWilliams, Moore, Morgan, Murphy of Cook, Murphy of Perry, Nance, Naper, Pace, Roman, Simms, Robert Smith, Stapp, Thomas of St. Clair, Walker of Fulton, Walker of Vermilion, Williamson, Wood, Zimmerman, and Mr. Speaker -44. Those who voted for Mr. Kellogg, are, Messrs. Aldrich, Baker, Craig, Cunningham, Dawson, Dubois, Dunn, Edwards, Elliott, Elkin, Emmerson, Hardin, Harlan, Henderson, Huey, Holmes, Hull, Jarrott, Johnson, Jones, Lincoln, Lyons, Marshall, Maus, McCormick, McCutchen, McMillan, Menard, Murphy of Vermilion, Ot well, Phillips, Rawalt, Read, Roberts, G. Smith, Starr, Thomas of McLean, Webb, and Williams-40. Isaac S. Berry having received a majority of all the votes given, was declared duly elected Assistant Clerk to the House of Representatives. A message from the Governor, by Mr. Field, Secretary of State: Mr. Speaker: I am directed by the Governor to lay before the House a message in writing. And he withdrew. Whereupon, The Speaker laid before the House the following message from the Go vernor: FELLOW-CITIZENS of the Senate and House of Representatives: You are assembled in your Legislative capacity in conformity to my Proclamation of 19th October last, and it now becomes my duty to lay before you briefly the principal reasons for which you have been convened. Our system of Internal Improvements presents a subject of deep and absorbing interest in which the destiny of the State is involved, and when compared with its prospects and resources, is truly alarming. The public credit has been, and continues to be, extended to exhaustion, with a view of increasing the enormous debt which has been incurred. The vast amount which has been and is daily expending upon costly, and at present, unnecessary work, calls loudly for immediate Legislative interposition. The general disapprobation of the people to the extent of the system, and to the further continuance of the extravagant expenditures under the plan of operations which has been pursued, furnishes ample cause for convening you. The following is a brief statement of the present financial condition of the State. Europe 1,500,000 To which may be added amount due School Fund 750,000 Liabilities on account of surplus revenue deposited with Total liability of the State Amount upon which the State pays interest Present Available Resources. 477,919 44 11,107,919 44 10,630,000 00 637,800 00 1,000,000 2,100,000 $3,100,000 Probable dividends arising therefrom 248,000 Balance of debt against the State after deducting the Amount of annual interest after deducting Bank dividends The amount of Canal lands remaining unsold 270,182 acres Amount of lands entered under the act establishing a General System of Internal Improvements 40,332.34-100ths. Should the estimated cost of railroads when completed, be assumed according to the report of the Board of Public Works in December last, it would amount to Add amount of appropriations to rivers, under the act establishing a General System of Internal Improve ments To Western Mail Route To Counties Special appropriations under the act of 1839 Indefinite appropriations under the same act 7,530,000 389,800 11,470,444 50 400,000 00 250,000 00 200,000 00 388,000 00 388,000 00 Cost of system when completed according to estimate - $13,096,444 50 The annual interest on the same at six per cent. of the Canal be adhered to, it will add to the pub- To which add amount due the School Fund Constituting a State debt, on the completion of all the works authorized by law, amounting to Amount of interest which would annually accrue on the 785,786 68 8,000,000 00 750,000 00 - $21,846,444 50 1,310,786 67 The amount of canal lands remaining unsold, which, as will be perceived, I have placed under the head of unavailable resources, is estimated to be equal to the remaining cost of the canal on its completion. From this cursory view of the present condition of our State, the propriety of my recent proclamation, and the weighty considerations which induced it, cannot but be apparent. Perhaps no former period of our political history presents questions of more absorbing interest, or so likely to have such an important bearing on our future destiny. Within the last few years, the spirit of speculation-the natural offspring of an inflated paper circulating medium, has swept over the country. Millions, unaware of its fatal tendency, partook largely of its morbid influence, and wildly rushed into folly and extravagance. Forgetting the real source of wealth-the actual products of the country, they embarked in the most visionary schemes, and became a consuming instead of a producing people. If loans could be obtained for the prosecution of a favorite enterprise, they were willing to leave time to provide for the liquidation of debts incurred, without any regard to existing, and I may add, prospective resources. Not only individuals, but representative bodies, were allured from the paths of prudence and economy by the overweening seduction of this popular, but fatal delusion. At this critical and most important crisis, a bill was introduced into the Legislature, providing for a general system of Internal Improvements by the construction of nearly thirteen hundred miles of railroads and the improvement of various rivers, and such was the zeal with which it was urged, and so numerous and powerful were its friends, that it passed through both Houses by large majorities. No fear seemed to be entertained by its advocates but that the ability and resources of the State would prove equal to the accomplishment of such a herculean task, and they pointed with pride and exultation to that high rank in the scale of wealth to which, as they alledged, the measure would finally elevate us. As for myself, at the time I entered upon the station I now occupy, I had no doubts that the system was larger than our means could sustain, but being in favor of a system owned exclusively by the State, I only expressed my disapprobation of its extent, and my preference for the construction of the most important work first; for at that period, as at present, the amount expended under the existing plan of operations, deeply involv ed our character and credit, and seemed to forbid its abandonment. The vast debt, however, already incurred, the interest of which must be promptly paid, and the deranged state of the monetary affairs of this and other countries, making the negotiations of loans on acceptable terms exceed ingly difficult, if not impracticable, interpose insurmountable obstacles to the successful prosecution of the system as now authorized by law. If additional testimony is wanting of the absolute necessity of its speedy reduction, and a more judicious application of our expenditures, it is to be found in the almost universal opposition of the people to the extent of the works and the manner in which they are prosecuted, partially expressed through the medium of public meetings held in various counties, the proceedings of which have been addressed to me in my official ca. pacity. I am aware that the System is the result of mutual concession and compromise, and that its advantages were to be dispensed as equally as possible throughout the State, by the construction of improvements in almost every county, and appropriating to those in which no improvements were to be made, $200,000 in lieu thereof. Not adhering, however, to these principles of compromise, extravagant as they appear, it seems to have been the settled determination of subsequent legislation, not only to carry out the original System, but actually to enlarge it nearly $1,000,000. The fatal tendency of this course, and the ruinous policy of simultaneously commencing all the works, and constructing them in detached parcels, thus making the completion of the most important depend upon the completion of the whole, is alike at variance with the principles of sound economy, destructive to the interests of the State, and to the System in all its parts. Absolute necessity, as well as the dictates of wisdom and prudence, demand at your hands such enactments as will remedy these evils, and ensure a judicious application of all future expenditures. I would, therefore, most earnestly recommend the cons centration of all future labor and expenditures upon the most useful and |