Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force Feb.[February] 6, 1835.

AN ACT for the relief of the securities of Thomas Moore and others.
1

Securities of Thos. Moore released from certain recognizances.

Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That William A. Minshall, Abraham Marshall, and Charles W. Bacon, are hereby discharged and released from their recognizances, by them entered into, as the securities of Thomas Moore in the two cases of the people of the State of Illinois against said Moore, now pending in the circuit court of Hancock county, and they are hereby authorized to plead this act

<Page 2>
in bar to any proceeding on the said recognizances, or either of them.

Securities of Wm. Blocker released from certain recognizances.

Sec. 2. That the estate of William Gaston and Squire Craine, Robert Henderson and Conrad Will, are hereby discharged and released from the recognizances by them entered into as the securities of Timothy Blocker, in a case of the people of the State of Illinois against said Blocker, now pending in the circuit court of Jackson county, by their paying all costs accrued thereon.

This act to be in force from and after its passage.2

Approved, Feb. 7, 1835.

1On January 1, 1835, George W. P. Maxwell in the Senate introduced the petition of William A. Minshall, Abraham Marshall, and Charles W. Bacon. The Senate referred the petition to a select committee. On January 6, Maxwell from the select committee introduced SB 47 in the Senate. On January 7, the Senate referred it to a select committee. The select committee reported back the bill on January 17 with an amendment, in which the Senate concurred. The Senate passed the bill as amended on January 22. The House passed the bill on February 2. On February 7, the Council of Revision approved the bill and the act became law.
Illinois House Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 358, 384, 455, 470; Illinois Senate Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 1st sess., 165, 190, 199, 268, 307, 404, 437, 441, 453; Illinois House Journal. 1835. 9th G. A., 2nd sess., 381, 397, 411.

2Minshall, Marshall, and Bacon had signed as securities for Moore, which means they personally financially ensured the performance by him of some future action. Similarly, Gaston, Craine, Henderson, and Will were securities for Blocker. This law effectively released the men from their obligations to ensure the actions of Moore and Blocker.
Martha L. Benner and Cullom Davis et al., eds., The Law Practice of Abraham Lincoln: Complete Documentary Edition, 2d edition (Springfield: Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, 2009), http://www.lawpracticeofabrahamlincoln.org.