Amendment to "A Bill for the Further Prosecution of the Illinois and Michigan Canal,"
[22 January 1840]1
Amend the eighth section by adding there to the following towit.
"nor shall upon any contracts except those existing at the passage of this act." Provided that contracts which may be transfered from one contractor to another, without any change in their terms, shall not be construed to be new contracts2
"nor shall upon any contracts except those existing at the passage of this act." Provided that contracts which may be transfered from one contractor to another, without any change in their terms, shall not be construed to be new contracts2
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2On January 22, 1840, Lincoln of a select committee proposed this amendment to HB 108, introduced by Newton Cloud in the House of Representatives on January 8. On January 13, the House referred the bill to the Committee on the
Judiciary. The Committee on the Judiciary reported back the bill on January 18 with
an amendment, in which the House concurred. The House refused to order the bill engrossed
for a third reading by a vote of 35 yeas to 50 nays, with Lincoln voting yea. On January
20, the House re-considered this vote and, upon Lincoln’s motion, referred the bill
to a five-person select committee that included Lincoln. Lincoln of the select committee
reported back the bill on January 22 with this amendment. Representatives offered
amendments, and the House informally tabled the bill and proposed amendments. On January
23, the House tabled the amendment to the select committee’s amendment and concurred
with the select committee’s amendment. The House added language related to the issuance
of scrip, but rejected further amendment related to the issue of scrip by a vote of
26 yeas to 55 nays, with Lincoln voting nay. Lincoln proposed an amendment to add a proviso to the first section, which the House adopted . On January 24, the
House tabled, on Lincoln’s motion, an amendment and an amendment to said amendment.
The House refused to order the bill engrossed for a third reading by a vote of 36
yeas to 46 nays, with Lincoln voting yea.
Illinois House Journal. 1839. 11th G. A., special sess., 136, 163, 201, 204, 232-33, 235, 236, 242-43.
Handwritten Document, 2 page(s), Lincoln Collection, HB 108, GA Session: 11-S, Illinois State Archives (Springfield, IL).