The memorial of the General Assembly of the State of Illinois respectfully represents, that that, portion of the people of this State, residing South of a line from Shawneetown extending north-westerly to Bellevill[e] thro.[through] which the Vincennes and St Louis mail passes daily, encounter grea[t] difficulty and delay in their business intercourse with each other, and with the southern section of the Union, and especially New Orleans where such of their business and trade is directed.

In all that portion of the state including a length of one hundred and thirty miles, there is but one mail transmitted weekly and that on Horses. When your Hon[or]able body is informed that a trade great in value and extent in the productions of this state, is prosecuted by our enterprising citizens to New Orleans and the intermediate places in flat and other boats, employing a great many hands in the autumn season of the year in their navigation, who find their way back by land especially from the mouth of the Ohio, above which point the Mississippi is often obstructed by ice, the

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necessity of some increased mail facilities is obvious. In the Judgement of this assembly nothing less is demanded under the circumstances than the establishment of a mail to ^be^ carried in stages thro that distance at least twice in each week. such a rout is entirely practicable, the and it is believed will be of great public utility, and expedite greatly the business concerns and intercourse between the [no]rtherly & southerly parts of the Union. This assembly believes the mail accommodation proposed, is highly deserving the attention of congress; and no doubt is entertained that this additional improvement, will not increase the expenditures of the Post office Department, in any proportion to the great public benefit it will confer.

Therefore Resolved—that our Senators be instructed, and our Representatives requested to use their best endeavors to procure the transportation of the mail in stages twice at least in each week from ^the^some point out the mouth of the Ohio River, and from thence by the way of Unity by Jonesboro in Union County, to Brownsville in Jackson county and from thence to Pinkneyville in Perry C^o

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^Nashville in Washington County^ and from thence to Belleville St Clair County.