Report of Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditures regarding Relief of Purchasers
of Vandalia Lots, [16 December 1834]1
Mr SpeakerThe committee on public accounts and expenditures, to whom was refered the resolution, requiring said committee to inquire into the expediency of granting further relief
to certain purchasers of Vandalia lots, have directed me to report, that they have had said resolution under consideration
and that they are of opinion no further relief ought to be extended to said purchasers—
and that they ask to be discharged from the further consideration of said resolution—2
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Report of Com Pub acts & Expen[Committee on Public Accounts and Expenditures]
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Dischd[Discharged] from
further consideration
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Vandalia lots
1Although Abraham Lincoln wrote this report, John D. Hughes delivered it to the House of Representatives on December 16, 1834, and the House discharged the committee from further consideration
of the resolution.
Illinois House Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 123-24.
2In 1819, Congress granted to the state of Illinois four sections, or 2,560 acres, for a new seat of government. Obtaining payment for
town lots sold in the new capital of Vandalia almost immediately became a problem.
In January 1821, the General Assembly granted purchasers an additional twelve months to pay for their lots. In February
1827, the General Assembly gave purchasers of lots in Vandalia a 50 percent discount
on the amount due. In January 1829, the General Assembly extended the benefits of
the 1827 act until August 1829, at which point any lots that were not paid in full
would be forfeited to the state. It also authorized the auditor of public accounts
to sell any remaining lots in Vandalia. Four years later, the General Assembly directed
the auditor of public accounts to have any unsold lots revalued by three persons and
to offer the lots for sale at the new valuation.
“An Act granting a donation of land to the state of Illinois, for the seat of government
of said state,” 3 March 1819, Statutes at Large of the United States 3 (1846):525; “An Act confirming the location of the seat of government of the state
of Illinois, and for other purposes,” 2 March 1821, Statutes at Large of the United States 3 (1846):618; “An Act approving and confirming the Proceedings of the Vandalia Commissioners,
and for other Purposes,” 27 January 1821, Laws of Illinois (1821), 32-34; “An Act for the Relief of Purchasers of Town Lots in Vandalia,” 14
February 1827, Revised Laws of Illinois (1827), 380-81; “An Act to Authorize the Auditor of Public Accounts to Sell Lots
in the Town of Vandalia, and for Other Purposes,” 22 January 1829, Revised Laws of Illinois (1829), 188-89; “An Act relative to the Unsold Lots in the Town of Vandalia, and
for Other Purposes,” 1 March 1833, Revised Laws of Illinois (1833), 605-06; Illinois House Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 59.
Handwritten Document, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL).