Papers Of Abraham Lincoln

In force, Mar.[March] 2, 1839.

AN ACT to fix the time of holding courts in the several counties composing the fifth judicial circuit.
1
Sec.[Section] 1. Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly, That the terms of the circuit courts of the several counties in the fifth judicial circuit, in this State, shall commence at the times hereinafter specified, and continue to be held from day to day, Sundays excepted, until the business in said courts shall be disposed of, unless it shall be necessary to close the term to enable the judge to attend in the next county for the purpose of holding court:

Schuyler.

Brown.

Adams.

Hancock.

McDonough.

Warren.

Mercer.

Knox.

Fulton.

In the county of Schuyler, on the third Mondays of March and August; in the county of Brown, on the first Mondays of April and September; in the county of Adams, on the second Mondays of April and September; in the county of Hancock, on the fourth Mondays of April and September; in the county of McDonough, on the first Mondays of May and October; in the county of Warren, on the second Mondays of May and October; in the county of Mercer on the third Mondays of May and October; in the county of Knox, on the fourth Mondays of May and October; in the county of Fulton on the first Mondays after the fourth Mondays of May and October.

Sec. 2. All writs or other process which may have been issued from any of said circuit courts since the last term of the same, or which may hereafter be issued previous to this act being received in said counties, respectively, shall be deemed, and are hereby, made returnable on the first day of the next term of the said circuit courts to be held by virtue of this act, and all proceedings, both civil and criminal, which are now pending therein, shall be disposed of according to law, in the same manner as if no alteration had been made in the times of holding said courts.

Approved, March 2, 1839.

1Joseph W. Churchill introduced HB 230 as “An act to incorporate the Fox River Manufacturing Company, and for other purposes” to the House of Representatives on January 29, 1839, and the House referred it to the Committee on Internal Improvements. The committee reported back on February 4 and recommended an amendment, to which the House concurred. The House passed the bill on February 13. The Senate referred it to the Committee on the Judiciary on February 26. The committee reported back on February 27 and recommended several amendments, to which the Senate concurred, gave the bill its current title, and passed it. The House passed the amended bill on March 1. The Council of Revision approved the bill the next day and the act became law.
Journal of the House of Representatives of the Eleventh General Assembly (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1838), 306, 339, 392, 537, 570, 602, 606; Journal of the Senate of the Eleventh General Assembly (Vandalia, IL: William Walters, 1838), 331, 423, 440, 481, 508-9.