Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

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Sec[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the people of the State of Illinois, Represented in the General Assembly That James Madison and Nathan Tucker2 be, and they are hereby appointed Commissioners to value the improvements, made by Peter Clemmens on Section Sixteen in Township five South of Range two West of the Fourth principal Meridian in Pike County 3

Sec. 2. Said Commissioners, after having taken an oath, before some Justice of the peace of said County, for the faithful discharge of the duties required of them by this Act, shall proceed to said Section and estimate the value of the improvement made thereon by the said Peter Clemens, taking into consideration the increased value thereof in consequence, of said improvement, And also the value received by the said Peter Clemens by the use and occupancy of the said premises, and if in their opinion the said Peter Clemens has not been fully and justly remunerated by the use and occupancy of said premises, they shall determine to what amount he is justly entitled and make report thereof to the School Commissioner and agent of said County of Pike

Sec 3. It shall be the duty of the said school Commissioner and Agent to receive and file the report of the said Commissioners, in his office and pay the said Peter Clemens the amount of money the said Commissioners shall report to be due to himThe said money to be paid out of the funds belonging to said Township, and not out of the funds of any otherThis act to be in force from and after its passage4

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[ docketing ]
H. R.
A Bill entitled an act for the relief of Peter Clemens

[ docketing ]
[01]/[02]/[1837]
Engrossed

1On December 14, 1836, Alpheus Wheeler in the House of Representatives presented a petition, requesting the relief of Peter Clemens. The House referred the petition to the Committee on Petition. Responding to the petition, Stephen A. Douglas of the Committee on Petitions introduced HB 12 in the House on December 19. On January 2, 1837, the House amended the bill by striking out sections two and three and adding in lieu thereof two new sections. The House further amended the bill by adding the name “Nathan Tucker” to the first section. On January 9, the House referred the bill and proposed amendments to a select committee. The select committee reported back the bill on January 12 without amending, recommending the bill’s rejection. The House voted against passage of the bill.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 26, 34, 74, 161, 220, 239-40.

2On January 2, 1837, the House of Representatives added Nathan Tucker to the list of commissioners.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 161.

3Located in the eastern portion of the county, east of Pittsfield near Detroit. The U.S. Congress reserved the sixteenth section of townships for public schools in the Land Ordinance of 1785.
“Counties, Townships, and Ranges in Illinois,” Maps, 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/Reference.aspx?ref=Reference html files/LandMeasurement.html.

4On January 2, 1837, the House of Representatives struck out the original second and third sections and inserted in lieu thereof new second and third sections.
Illinois House Journal. 1836. 10th G. A., 1st sess., 161.